Condensed Matter Theory graduate student profile

Matt Farrow
Final Year PhD Student

I am in my final year of a PhD in the Condensed Matter Theory group, researching the dynamics of materials at extremely high temperatures and pressures using state-of-the-art computer simulations tools. I simulate intense shock waves that pass through my chosen material and then analyse the resulting state to look for interesting properties, such as phase transformations.

After visiting the Department of Physics I was very impressed by the people here - friendly and knowledgeable and always willing to help

In order to do this research, I get to use powerful computing resources, such as the National Supercomputer, HECToR, as well as our very own supercomputer here at York. These simulations allow for experiments to be performed that would otherwise by very costly to actually be performed in the laboratory.

Below is a snapshot from a shock wave simulation of quartz, you can see the compression that the atoms are being subjected to as the shock wave passes left to right.

Snapshot of a shock wave simulation of quartz.

The past 3 years have really flown by! I recall initially wanting to come to York University because of its strong academic record and the historic city location, but after visiting the Department of Physics I was very impressed by the people here - friendly and knowledgeable and always willing to help. It reassured me that I had made the right choice in coming to study here!